Clutch-actuating mechanism



Aug. 5, 1930. N. HUBER CLUTCH ACTUATING MEGHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1927 IN VENTOR. 7Z arman l( 1122er l? M f Arozezvdgs Patented Aug. 5, 1930UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFlcE NORMAN HUBER,

OF DUL'UTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO OLYDE IRON' ORKS,l OF DULUTH,MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE y.

GLUTGHIJACTUATNGv MECHANISM Application led September 15, 1927'.l SerialNo. 219,616.3.

This invention, as indicated, relates to a clutch actuating mechanism,and more specifically to such a mechanism in which the friction betweenthe thrust members and the reacting friction is taken up by means ofroller bearings.

In the actuation of large clutches, considerable difficulty is oftenexperienced due to the amount of friction which is generated betweenthrust members and between said members and the casing surrounding them.The primary object of this invention is to obviate such difficulties andto provide'a clutch actuating mechanism which will be satisfactory underworking conditions with even the largest of clutches.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claim; the annexed drawings and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one ofvarious mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may beused.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section throughmechanism forming an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is an endelevation of said mechanism seen from the right hand of Fig. 1; and Fig.3 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modification of the attachingmeans.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, H indicates generally the clutchactuating mechanism which is the subject of this invention.

The shaft 1 of the drum is mounted to roi tate in bearing 2, and isprovided with a. bore 3 of relatively small diameter in which is mounteda thrust pin 4, one end of which projects outwardly beyond the end ofsuch shaft.

The shaft 1 is provided near its end with a ange 5 defining a groove 6and a reduced end portion 7. Mounted in said groove is a ring 8 having aflange 10 provided with apertures 9 at spaced points about itsperiphery, while an adapted ring 11 is mounted on the reduced outer end7 of said shaft 1, and is clamped in position between said flange 10 anda flange 12 on a casing 13, said flanges being connected by,v means ofbolts 14 passing through said apertures 9 and similar aperturesinthe'flange 12. Mounted in said casing 13 and in engagevment with theprojecting end of the thrust pin 4 is a thrust plate15 provided with alplurality lofrecesses 16, each yof which receives one end of oneof aplurality of springs 17, the oppothe casing 13. Said grooves receiveakey 21 to prevent relative rotation between said cas- Vinlg 13 and thethrust'plate 15. A member 23 having a conical face 24 is mounted in therecess formed by the skirt 19said face 24 providing one element of abearing race, the other element of which is formed on a mein- Vber 26carried bya thrust disk 27 Conical rollers 25 are received between themembers -23 and 26.

The vthrust disk 27 is formed on its outer face with a sleeve 28received in a corresponding recess in a thrust nut 29. Said nut 29 isprovided with a shoulder 3() which retains an annulus 31 on which isformed one Ymember of a race for a plurality of conical rollers 32, theother member of said race being formed onlalmember 33 which is mountedin., vthe casing 13.V Athrust screw34, having al reduced end 35, isthreadedly mounted in the nut 29, andgsaid end 35 is received in thesleeve 28 of theV thrust disk 27. Saidfnut .29 isheld against rotationby a clamp 3G which is split to .provide ears 37 adapted to be forcedtowardk eachother by a bolt 38. Said lc lamp 36 is held `againstmovement by a bracket 39 received in a dog 40 attachedvtolthe frame D,or to-any other immovableelement.

vbe obvious from the above description, but

a brief summary thereofwill be given. The...

V4co A clamp 41 is adapted to be received ontheV` v casing 13, in virtueof its connection through the ring 8 with the shaft 1, rotates with saidshaft. Movement of the arm 43 causes the screw 34 to advance through thestationary nut 29 and thus to force the thrust disk27 towardvthe left,as seen inFig. 2, against the force ofthe springs 17. It will be obviousthat the friction between the elements27 and 15 will be taken up by therollers 25, and that the reactionary friction between the elements 13and 29 will be taken up by the rollers 32. f

Movement of the disk 15, asabove described., will of course cause thethrust pin 4 to be moved in a like direction to operate the. clutch (notshown). Reverse movement of l the arm 43 permits the springs 17 'to movethe disk 15 back to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the modification disclosed in F ig. 3, the shaft 1 isprovided with a reduced 'screw threaded end 50, and the ring 8"'i`sprovided with screw threads 51 for cooperation therewith. The ring 8carries v`a ang'e 9 y'provided with apertures 10 for the reception ofbolts 14 which secure the flange 12 of the casing 13 to said ring 8.This structure ob? viates the use of the adapter ring 11v and recesses18 for the reception of adjacent ends of the springs 17 are thereforeprovided in one` face of said ring 8. The operation of the deviceillustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as that of the device illustrated inthe other figures.

Other modes of applying the principle of `my invention may be employedinstead ofthe one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by the following claim orthe equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention"In a clutch actuating `assembly,the combination with a shaft havinga'bore, a thrust pin in said bore and projecting therefrom and a, grooveandk a reduced portion on said shaft and separated by a flange, ofa ringretained in said groove,"a casing connected to said ring, an adapterfittingover said reduced portion and clamped between said flange andsaid casing, a plate in said casing and in contact with the projectingend of said pin, resilient means between said plate and said adapter andadapted to force said plate away from said adapter, means adaptedtoforce said plate toward said adapter, an`d-fric tion reducing meansbetween said last-fmentioned means and said'plate.

NORMAN l HUBER;

Signed by me, thisl 9 day v'of September,

